TOPICS FOR WOMEN

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 145, 22 June 1938, Page 17

TOPICS FOR WOMEN

"A SOPHISTICATED CITY"

The exotic charm of South American cities and a week spent in Nassau, the millionaires' playground in the Bahamas, were two of the highlights of a leisurely homeward journey made by a Melbourne girl, Miss Fox, statesman exchange. She flew from Miami, a two-hour trip in a big seaplane, the cabin of which was partitioned into compartments for four like a railway carriage. The Gulf Stream, which had always seemed.rather a dull geographical fact, could be clearly seen from above as a dark meandering strip of blue on a paler ocean.

Nassau, Miss Fox said, is a' most sophisticated city. The hotels . and cabarets are the last word in modern ■luxury, and the prices for the hotels begin at £6 a day. It was "discovered" by Americans during the days of Prohibition, and is now the haunt of wealthy people, who maintain magnificent holiday homes there.

To have a garden in Nassau is an achievement, as the soil has to be carted and holes blasted in the solid rock before anything can be planted.

Swimming parties are very numerous, and if you visit Hog Island (it costs you 5s just to land) you will see the very latest in beach fashions.

After bathing, picnics, or the races, Nassau goes along to the famous Jungle Night Club, which is built -like a.native hut, thatched with palm leaves, and has a marvellous coloured orchestra and interesting native exhibition dances. Or it visits "Dirty Dick's," a copy, of the old London tayern which tradition says was founded in 1745 by a man whose bride died -a few days

PLAYGROUND OF MILLIONAIRES

before the wedding. He swore an oath never to wash nor wear new clothes from that day forth The Bahaman copy is a far cry from Bishopsgate, and the grinning commissionaire in a smart bellboy uniform is totally out of keeping with the original atmosphere.

Nassau has an interesting sponge market and a sponge fleet, manned by natives, who go out daily in search of their queer catch. In the market are sponges of all shapes and sizes, from giants down to the ordinary bathroom variety.

Miss Fox then went down to Havana, and thence to South America, where every journey presented a problem, as getting one's luggage was a nightmare. The porters could neither read the labels nor speak English, so sne was reduced to tying pieces of red ribbon on each package, holding up another matching piece and five fingers and shouting "Cinco, Cinco," which finally had the desired effect.

In nearly every city the cemetery was regarded as a place of interest, and she was conducted there immediately. In one she was shown a series of elaborate monuments, some costing as much as £10,000. This was "Millionaires'. Row." Behind it were the graves, and at the back the common grave for paupers.

This used to be- an open pit, but is now closed in, as tourists were apt to souvenir the bones! People who cannot afford an expensive grave for their relations often wait for years until their bones can be reinterred in a small urn and then placed in a more costly' situation.

PRESIDENT'S SON

BIG AMERICAN WEDDING

JOHN ROOSEVELT'S BRIDE

Yesterday's cable news reported the wedding of John Roosevelt, youngest son of America's President, Franklin Roosevelt, and Anne Clark, a Boston society girl. The ceremony took place in Nahant, the smallest town OJE Massachusetts, at high noon. There were'over 5000 guests at a wedding, which was estimated to cost 10,000 dollars. :

The bride's father, Franklin Haven Clark, was a Boston investment banker, and until his death in 1936, was an ardent yachtsman ' and trained his daughter to be a proficient sailor. Although the Clark family cannot qualify as one of the sixty families whose fortunes control the country, the bride's mother was sufficiently enJowed to provide, besides the extravagant wedding party and the gown with a five-yard train a "summer cottage" at Nahant which cost 50,000 dollars, and which the newly-married couple Is using as a honeymoon cottage. ; .;

The "bridal retinue was' large. Sally Clark, the bride's 18-year-old sister, was maid of honour, and her other sister, Joan, aged 10, with "Sistie" Dall, the' President's grand-daughter, were flower girls. Mrs. James Roosevelt and five other society women were additional bridesmaids, and there were fourteen ushers. Immediately after the' wedding the young Roosevelts left for a six weeks' European cruise, returning to America in August when John will commence his career as an advertising man.

He has settled down at last, U.S.A. newspapers report, and since the end of 1935 has not "made the headlines." Love, they aver, has made him a model youth,-and since he signed-a "safe driving" pledge publicly in November, 1935, -he has confined'his interests to polo, - rowing, and "dancing with diminutive Ann Clark" (who Is five feet six inches, while he is six feet four inches tall). HIS "WILD OATS." During his time.at Harvard University, of which he is a graduate, John Roosevelt's name was frequently Jn the newspapers. In 1934 he made a flying tackle to destroy plates photographers were making of Franklin, jun.'s initiation into the- very social Hasty Pudding Society at college. In August, 1935, he was arrestedMor speeding in Hyde Park, New York. In October, 1035, he drove his roadster through railway crossing gates and collided'with- a train at East Boston, bound for the aerodrome to put brother James on an aeroplane for Washington. "•.■'■.-•

It was John Drayton, nephew of the American Ambassador to Italy, who was with John Roosevelt in a barouche at the "Battle of Flowers" in Cannes on the Riviera last July when Mayor Pierre Nouveau complained to the American Ambassador at Paris that he had been sprayed with the contents of a bottle of champagne and "decorated" with the blossoms from a bouquet he tried to present to young Mr. Roosevelt as an official welcome. John Roosevelt, on his return to America, stoutly denied this incident, saying: "It must have been a couple of other fellows"

The "San Francisco Chronicle" comments favourably on the 'steadying influence of the new Mrs. Roosevelt, who is described as a member of the elite Boston debutante ffoup, and as "a diminutive, graceful' ash-blonde - with wide grey-blue eyes, and with the high, intelligent forehead and straight, generous mouth of the Boston intellectual type. Tweeds and sports Oxfords become her personality better than high heels and frou-frous."

Both Mr. and Mrs, John Roosevelt are 22.

SIMPLE BEAUTY REGIMES

[ It is riot always necessary to possess lots of money in order to achieve beauty of face and figure. It helps, certainly, but thereiare lots of women who retain their loveliness with very simple but consistent beauty regimes. It is' the consistency that does mo3t good, no matter whether you are using the rrfist expensive face cream or a simple aid from the kitchen cupboard. Here are a few simple home recipes for beauty supplied by a film star: — Grated potato wrapped in a thin cotton pad makes a splendid eye pack for relieving tired or strained eyes. If you drink a glass of fresh orange juice daily your skin will gain life and colour. Sweet fresh milk applied to the face with a cotton pad and allowed to dry on makes an ideal skin food. If used at least once a week it will soften and whiten the skin. A slice of raw cucumber applied to the skin acts as' a tonic and astringent, and is especially good in warm weather.

SILKWORM FARM

TEAROOM IN TUDOR BARN

Lady Hart-Dyke has a special stall at the Glasgow Exhibition to demonstrate the! progress she is making with her silkworm hobby, states an exchange. Her farm at Lullingstone is a pleasant place of pilgrimage to those who are interested in the silkworm industry. It attracts so many visitors, indeed; that Lady, Hart-Dyke is proposing to set up tearooms and a refreshment buffet hi the old Tudor barn attached to,,the\ estate. ,i: " ■ ■"'

The dimensions to which she,has developed her hubby,may be gauged from the fact that this year she plans to breed no fewer than two million silk, worms. Lullingstone will be more popular than ever this year, for overseas visitors who go to Glasgow and visit Lady Hart-Dyke's stall are 6ure to be fired with some of her enthusiasm and inspired by a desire to be shown over her farm when they pass through London afterwards.

LONDON PERSONALS

(From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON, May 25.

Mr. and Mrs. John Spencer (Pukerau) have mapped out a tour of Belgium, Holldnd/France, and Germany. On their return from the 'Continent they will buy a motor-car and spend about four months touring through England, Scotland, and Wales. They expect to be back in New Zealand about December.

Mr. and Mrs. Ben Hoar (Wanganui) are staying at Gravesend. They expect to visit the Continent before travelling through England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. They are on a purely holiday trip, and they intend to return to New Zealand at the end of the year.

Mrs. E. Lonsdale (Wellington) is staying with her parents in Derbyshire, and she hopes to remain in England for about six months. She has a number of relatives and friends to see while she is in the Old Country. Mrs. C. J. Bennington (Wellington) has been touring Lincolnshire. En route to Scotland she will include Chester. A lengthy stay in Scotland is planned, and London will not be reached again until early in October. Mrs. Bennington has pencilled in her return passage by the Orama, due to leave Tilbury on October 22.

Miss Leslie J. Cook (Tauranga) reached England at the beginning of April from Java and Singapore, and she expects to remain until the end of October. She has lately been travelling in England and Scotland. During June and July she will be motoring on the Continent with friends, the tour mapped out including France, Switzerland,' and Germany. She will travel back to Scotland from Hamburg via Hull. At the end of the Scottish summer, Miss Cook will have a few weeks in London and return to New Zealand via Panama.

Mrs. M. A. Morrison (Feilding) is leaving today for a tour through France and Switzerland. On her return she will go to Glasgow to see the Exhibition. In Scotland she has relatives whom she will visit/ Since her arrival by the Orcades, Mrs. Morrison has been staying in the Isle of Wight and Bournemouth.

Miss Peggy Acton-Adams (Christchurch) has returned to Okehampton, after a very pleasant visit to Paris. Her headquarters in England are with her aunt, Lady Marchamley, who has a house in Devonshire and a fiat in London. Until the beginning of August London will be her chief centre. Miss Acton-Adams does not intend to leave until about December on her. return to New Zealand, and in the meantime she hopes to see something more of the Continent. j

Miss F. G. Edwards and Miss H. L. Faber (both of Wellington), have started on an extended motor tour through England and Scotland, the route taking in the south coast resorts. tft£ industrial centres, and the English Lake District. They will return from Scotland to London by the East Coast. In company with two other friends, Miss Edwards and Miss Faber will go to the Continent. During a six weeks' tour there they think of visiting seven or eight countries. Later on, Miss Faber intends to visit the different diet schools, and make 'a special study of diabetic diet. Miss Edwards will probably for a time be engaged in private nursing. Their holiday will probably extend into 12 months.

Miss Ann Fell (Wanganui) has been slaying in Norfolk, and after a short time in London she will go to Hampshire to stay with her aunt, Lady Fell. During October, November, and December,' she hopes to be in France staying with a French family, and early next year she will go to Switzerland for the winter sports.

The New Zealand friends of Miss G. Acton-Adams (Kaikoura) will be glad to have good news of her progress after illness. It is hoped that she will be able to go to the Norfolk coast for her period of convalescence, accompanied by Miss Sheila Atkinson, who is travelling with her. Mrs. Miles Acton-Adams Is due to arrive In a few days from Canada. i

THE RED-HEADS

HISTORICAL FIGURES

Assuming that most things which catch on in the United States ultimatein ly do so in England, attention should w be directed to red-heads in our midst, , s . because American gentlemen are now re enthusiastically preferring them to ly blondes and brunettes, writes Ferdin- *•" and Tuohy in the London "Daily Mail." , e At the root of this new popularity )y is the advent of colour photography of and technicolour films, red hair and re pale skin giving greater contrast and m more artistic photographs than other types, a, Yet it isn't only the art angle. Sides' re are being taken touching the charace teristics, capabilities, temperaments of ie red-heads, a catholic term comprising is all the shadings, "carroty," just red, ™ auburn, tawny, "ginger," copper, redid Sold. ly It seems one is either for red-heads or against them—one can't be neutral Y —even as red-heads are themselves all ['. or nothing. 3S IMPULSIVE, COURAGEOUS. ig \. Red-heads, say the Americans, are , e either much better or much worse than k blondes and brunettes. They are very seldom mediocre. As a rule, red-heads is have strong personalities, are impul)t sive, intelligent, aggressive, imaginai- tive, and temperamental to a degree. r They are also proud and sensitive. il Sometimes they lack discretion, but a never courage. They will rush into e any battle regardless of the odds—or fall in or out of love with amazing facility. How does that compare with your local red-heads? Naturally, it is but a step from boosting red-heads to excavating substantiating cases from history and the present, illustrative of presumed virtues and vagaries. Did Cleopatra's "auburn tresses" .1 conquer Caesar? Maybe. But can ,- Nelson be claimed? Was he red-gold? i Napoleon is even a greater shock. Yet :- Emil Ludwig is cited as having seen i Napoleonic locks, "chestnut flecked b with red, proving that at least one ,-• ancestor was an out-and-out red." :, Other claims include Sappho's tawny n hair, so fatally charming, and Salome's - "flaming copper tresses." .' \ Americans are perhaps on safer ground when they tell us that.three - of their greatest Presidents, Washingi ton, Jefferson, and Andrew Jackson, > were red-heads., Notso-'great Coolidge . was another. 2 Which reminds me' that Ave of our - Sovereigns, and not the least by a long I way, were red-heads. The Conqueror, > William Rufus, Henry VIII, Elizabeth, l and Mary, Queen of Scots. The last t was 100 per cent, true to type: pssi sionate, seductive, impulsive, chockful of personality and drama. Shakespeare was encased 'neath a dome from which fell dark red waviness. Nell Gwynn affords another pro-red-head argument; a lass. of character, from nowhere, and one of maximum sex-appeal.' Was Lucrezia . Borgia a red-head? They say so. Any: . way, there was Bianca Capello, noted siren of Venice, of which Republic she ! was made a Daughter. i AMONG THE ENGLISH. In later times there was the "Red ! Prince" (of Prussia), who carried all before him in the opening battles of the Franco-Prussian War. And Garibaldi was almost as red as the shirt \ he wore when he sailed from Sicily at the head of a bare thousand followers 1 to build.a nation. Prominent English red-heads of the period were G. F. Watts' and Rosetti's "Blessed Damozel," the tragic Elizaibeth Siddal, whose intellect may not have been great, yet who had most of a brilliant circle at her feet, not excluding carrot-top Swinburne, burning, erratic soul in full red-head tradition. A celebrated pre-war beauty was the red-haired Mrs. Atherton, who' also died tragically after illuminating Mayfair. A glowing case of brains, character, •energy, and temperament was the divine (and dark red) Sarah Bernhardt. I saw her acting at her own theatre six months before she died, and though 78 and one-legged—restrict-ed to a chair throughout—she still dominated. Important to reflect that snow-whites of today may have Lsen the carrottops of yesteryear, as with Bernard Shaw, whose redness was inescapable in the nineties and later. Augustus John is a second who no longer exhibits the hue of beard and head that once marked him out. Isadora Duncan lived up to every trait attributed to the red-head. Enslaving and untamable, she hungered to live.to the utmost, danced through life, to finish tragically after 14 years of vain grief-fighting. Literature suggests Elinor Glyn, all passion in print, calm business woman out of it; and "Red" Sinclair Lewis, the liveliest, most explosive, .hard-living rebel who ever hammered a typewriter—to win the Nobel Prize. Then there's the greatest pianist of his generation, Paderewski, still with traces of his red locks. HOLLYWOOD BEVY. Outstanding Marie Dressier was another red-head. Billie Burke and Fay Compton have been both pre- and post- - war red-heads. Anna Lee and Elizabeth Pollock maintain the tradition. At Hollywood there's a bevy of the first flight: Hepburn (freckles no longer an obstacle), Janet Gaynor, Myrna Loy, Ginger Rogers—probably the best-known of all the red-heads today—Clara Bow, Francine Larrimore. All strictly "naturals." The director of a large New York agency for photographers' models declares: "Woe to her or him who tries the synthetic business! I can tell them at a glance because they lack the pep, personality, and glamour of the natural sorrel-top. You can dye the hair, but you can't dye the soul!" One would like to hear Carlos Valentino on that. Inventor of the plati- _ num blonde, Carlos has now evolved, in keeping with the new craze, the "champagne glo-head," a blondishred. Finally, sport provides whizzbang, red-head Budge; sub rosa diplomacy ■ yields "the latest Pompadour," th| Lupescu; and Ambassador Kennedy was all red on top, and seems to correspond to that delicious description I, once heard of a carroty friend-r-'.'a - locomotive in pants." We'll let him close this gallery of red-heads.

CARROTS IN CREAM

Put lib or ljlb of baby carrots In a saucepan with barely enough cold water to cover. Bring to the boil with the lid on, season well, and simmer till tender. Strain the carrots and pour the liquid back into the saucepan. Reduce it to half by fast boiling, A minute before serving add a pinch of sugar and a tablespooniul of cream.